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Friday, January 26, 2024

Abracadabra again

ARAMAIC WATCH? Is Abracadabra a Jewish word? Widely believed to derive from Aramaic, the phrase appears nowhere in classical Jewish sources (unattributed, My Jewish Learning).

I agree that the case is circumstantial, but I think it is strong. Abracadabra looks like it is a mixed Aramaic and Aramaicized Hebrew phrase אברא כדברא, which would mean something like "I create according to the word" (perhaps meaning "I create as I speak"). The translation offered in the article looks a bit off.

For the philological specifics, see here. And for more posts on Abracadabra, follow the links from there and from here.

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